Dangerous Driving Habits That Can Increase Risks of Car Accidents

Posted By Rosenberg & Rosenberg, P.A. || 24-Feb-2017

Operating a motor vehicle is a privilege, not a right. Because of this,
anyone who gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle has a legal duty to
drive safely, and to take reasonable measures that do not create unacceptable
risks of causing harm to others on the road. Unfortunately, many people
fail to uphold their legal duty of driving safely, and as a result, cause
numerous preventable accidents, injuries, and deaths. Fortunately for
victims who have been harmed by negligent drivers, personal injury claims
can provide the opportunity to pursue justice and financial compensation
for their damages.

Rosenberg & Rosenberg, P.A. is passionate about protecting the rights
of victims after they have been harmed by the negligence and wrongdoing
of other drivers. In these cases, our Fort Lauderdale personal injury
lawyers leverage over 160 years of combined experience to successfully
guide victims and their families through the legal process and toward
the compensation they rightfully deserved. Over the years, we have recovered
millions of dollars in compensation for accident victims.

Having helped numerous men, women, and families across South Florida following
preventable auto wrecks, we know first-hand the devastation and life-altering
consequences of dangerous driving habits. As such, we want to remind everyone
to make safety a priority whenever they are driving, and to be aware of
the common dangerous behaviors that increase risks of
car accidents. These include:

Using a Cell Phone – Smart phones have become an inextricable part of daily life for
millions of Americans, keeping us plugged in and constantly engaged in
other worlds. Unfortunately, the lure of using a cell phone often affects
people while they are behind the wheel, something that substantially increases
crash risks. This is because using a cell phone to text message, access
apps, send e-mails, or browse social medial commands nearly all forms
of a driver’s attention, including their visual, manual, and cognitive
focus. When even a moment’s distraction could cause a driver to
make critical errors or miss potential hazards they could otherwise avoid,
using a cell phone is one of the most dangerous driving behaviors there
is. While Florida does not prohibit handheld cell phone use by drivers
as other states do, it does ban texting for motorists of all ages. Regardless,
you should never text or use a cell phone when driving – it can wait.

Distraction – While texting and cell phone use have garnered the most attention
when it comes to
distracted driving, all forms of distraction increase risks of car accidents. This is because
they take a motorist’s focus away from the primary task of driving.
If your eyes are off the road for just 5 seconds when traveling only 55
mph, according to a VTTI study, you essentially travel the length of a
football field blindfolded. Dangerous distractions behind the wheel include
drinking or eating, conversing with passengers, reading or looking at
maps and navigation systems, adjusting music, and personal grooming.

Impairment – Drugged and
drunk driving have long plagued our roads and highways, and account for hundreds of
thousands of injuries and deaths every year. Just as with distracted driving,
impaired driving is entirely preventable. It is also a highly negligent
and illegal act that all motorists know increases crash risks. Do your
part to avoid this risk by never driving under the influence and planning
rides or using rideshare services if you do choose to partake in alcohol.

Speeding – Excessive speed is a key crash risk factor in preventable auto
accidents. Often, many people view speeding as traveling over the posted
speed limit, but similar risks can exist when driver’s travel too
fast for a given situation, such as speeding in school or construction
zones, during poor weather, during traffic, and when roadway conditions
are poor. When you speed, you lose the ability to quickly react and avoid
accidents.

Risky Driving – Risky driving can occur in a number of ways, some of which may
constitute traffic offenses. Common examples of these dangerous driving
behaviors include following too close, failing to use a turn signal, unsafe
lane changes, failing to yield, and failing to check your surroundings
prior to making any driving move.

Our legal team at Rosenberg & Rosenberg, P.A. has handled cases involving
negligent drivers who caused our clients harm in a number of ways. Although
every case was different, they all involved drivers who engaged in unsafe
behaviors that increased crash risks and highlighted their failure to
uphold their legal duty. If you have questions about your rights following
a preventable car accident and how our award-winning lawyers can help,
contact us for a FREE consultation.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.